Grower workshops to focus on glyphosate

Annual ryegrass is one of 17 weed species resistant to glyphosate in Australia. Photo by GRDC

How and when growers can arrange testing of weeds, to determine their susceptibility to herbicides such as glyphosate, will be one of the topics covered at coming free workshops in the Esperance port zone.

With Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment, the Esperance port zone Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN) is helping to coordinate three half-day workshops discussing best management practices for glyphosate.

Andrew Storrie, of AGRONOMO and the Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group (AGSWG), is organising the events, with assistance from agronomists Andrew Heinrich, of Farm & General, and Craig Brown, of Synergy/Craig Brown Consulting.

Mr Storrie said herbicide resistance levels in weeds could vary from paddock to paddock and testing of weeds would help growers to determine which herbicides worked effectively on different parts of their farm.

“While soil testing is standard practice for most Western Australian growers, herbicide susceptibility testing is less common, despite also being very important in helping to boost crop productivity and profitability on-farm,” he said.

“Knowing which herbicides are effective in a particular paddock can help growers to make informed weed management decisions and develop strategies to preserve remaining herbicide options.”

Mr Storrie said more summer rain in many areas of the WA grainbelt in recent years had led to more herbicides being used in those months and, without good integrated weed management plans in place, the risk of glyphosate resistance in a range of weed species was greatly increased.

“There are 17 weed species resistant to glyphosate in Australia and this number is expected to increase – along with the incidence of paraquat resistance (as its use increases to counter the risks of glyphosate resistance),” he said.

“The incidence of resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action is also rising.”

Mr Storrie said that, in addition to information about how and when to test for herbicide resistance, the Esperance port zone workshops would include advice about:

To register for the workshops, or for more information, contact Mr Storrie on 08 9842 3598 or andrew@agronomo.com.au

The Dunn Rock and Condingup workshops will be immediately followed by free half-day GRDC ‘Open Forums’ designed to give all WA grain growers an opportunity to have input into how grower levies are invested. To register, go to the RCSN website.

The AGSWG is supported by GRDC and key research and development-based crop protection companies with an interest in the sustainability of glyphosate. The group’s website has a range of information about glyphosate resistance, including a register of glyphosate-resistant weed populations and guides and links for management of glyphosate resistance in different crops and management situations

Latest advice about managing herbicides and herbicide resistance in wild radish and annual ryegrass is also contained in new GRDC Know More videos for the western region, featuring the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative’s (AHRI) Peter Newman - which can be found by on the GRDC YouTube channel.